Rockets vs Lightning

What is the purpose of the towers surrounding a launch pad.

After United Launch Alliance’s successful launch of their Vulcan Centaur rocket on the 8th of January, curious eyes may wonder why the rocket is surrounded by four large towers. In fact, if you are a regular observer of rocket launches, you may notice similar towers surrounding rockets at launch pads around the world.

Lift-off of the Vulcan Centaur on January 8, 2024, by United Launch Alliance (ULA). Photo credit: NASASpaceflighthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtPoAUuYXHo&t=5449s&ab_channel=NASASpaceflight.

Read the full article on IET’s EngX site here.